Poultry picking machine



April 1949- I. e. w. JOHNSON 2,466,242

POULTRY PICKING MACHINE Filed March 17-, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VENTOR,

April 1949- c. w. JOHNSON POULTRY PICKING' MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed March 1'7, 1945 April 1949- G. w. JOHNSON 2,466,242

POULTRY PICKING MACHINE Filed March 17, 194:5 4 Sheets-Shed 5 izadINVENTOR,

April 1949- G. w. JOHNSON POULTRY PIGKING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FiledMarch 17, 1945 Patented Apr. 5, 1949 Gorilon W, Johnson, 'Ray GdrflonJohnson Company, Kansas "City, 1110., wcorporatiom'of Missouri IApplloa'tion Maroh 17, 1945, S'erinl- N0. 583-;206

7 Claims. '1

This invention relates to .poultry ipicking machines and i hasparticular reference to a p'oultry picking machine v of the vdou-lo-iedrum type wherein the fowl or parts thereo f areintroducedbetween thepair of rotating feather engaging drums.

Theprincipal object of the present invention is thelprovision ofa-poultr-y picking maohine having a :=pair oi oppositely rotated pickingdrums -or stripperspartially shielded-topresentaslot-therebetweenthrough whiehparts-of the fowl-are introduced forpositioning between said. --rotatable drums. I

Another object of the present-invention is the provision of a cabinetcarrying a -rotatable picking drum mounted; inbearings stationary Iinsaid cabinetandarotatably mounted pickingdrum adjustable towardandirom said first named drum.

Another object of the present invention is the provision or a poultrypicking machine having a pair of cooperating -rotatable members eachhaving a vpair of spaced apart axially disposed members, a series ofelastic membersdisposed in spaced relation under tension betweensaid-axially disposed members, ea'ch of said elastic membershavingffeather engaging studs an'd me'ans to-limit the outward. movementof said el-astic members due tocentrifiigal force.

'Other objects areeconomy and rigidityof construction, adaptability/forpicking the extremities of the fowl and'simplic'ity and easeofpperat-ion.

With these objects in view. --as well -asother objects which willappearfluringithe coursewf the specification, reference will "-be -hadto the drawingswherein: c

"Fig. 1 is a "front elevation of "a fowlxplucking machine partly insection and partly 'in L dotted line's'embodyingthis invention.

7 Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line II 116f Fig.1.

Fig. "3 is across sectional view taken :onJine III--'-III"of Figjf2withthe -feather--engaging-iiiem" bers extnded by centrifugal iiorce duringthe picking operation with some iparts omitted and withotherpartsileft'in'elevation. I

*4 "is a orosssectional viewtaken on line Iii- 1V of Fig. 2 withsomepartsomittedand some partsieftin'elevation. I v v Fig. 5 "is "across sectional view or one of -the feather eri 'gagingdninis withlthefeather engaging lugs'extended.

Fig, 6 is "an "enlarged irag'mentary sectional view-showing" the end'p'ortion' of'the Felasticpicking hafand assooiated pairts.

8 As an ciila rgeil sectional view of one of the lower latch members.

"Fig. 9 a -lfra'gmentary .e1evati'onal viewishowing lthevupper drumhousing in i'JWO'IfifiQEBntrJPOF sitions. I

Fig. 1051s a iplan view ofathe elastic picking bar an'kiassociatedpartsshown inFig. 6.-

"Throughout the severa1- views like re'fere'nce characters ref er ltoslmi1 aniparts and-:-the'-=-numeral lll designates a cabinet eomprisingend walls v(Isl! and I 4, lqackwall J 6, andiront wal1-l'8. ALbottommember extends downwardly and zreanwardly from front wall 1-8 to -meetthe rear wall 4 6 -:ad-- jacent the bottom of the -=cabinet. Awentically disposed transverse {partition :24 "extends slownwardl-y fromthe to az-totem 'cabinetitoiaipoint spaced apart fro'm.thednclinedibottom :20. rihis partition i's spaced apart irom --the hackwall 1:6 to form :a-imotor compartment :24 which separated from itheiorw-arf'd icompartment 26 "which contains the 'li'eather L-pickingdrums 18' and 30; The 'upper portion of the xrear of the cabinet isprovidedjwith an upper hinged: closure member 32- arida lower' hinged-closum-member 34. These are aoapted to loe open ifor access to themotors 36 and -38 which drive drums 28 I and 30 Irespectively. me upperfronhpoi tion of the cabinetii's inclined upwardlymnd rearwa'rlily ,las.cle'arl yshown in Fig. -2 at to eprovide ror theiproper positioning ofthe ffeather engaging iirums in theopening i'l iormeditherein.

=Lower drum -28; iamounted onshatt-llmfor rotation therewith end thisshaftt'is mounted in bearings 42 disposed-atopposite--endsfofttlieeabinet en angle ledges M which are secured ato the respective iends f2andi I 4.

One end of shaft extend-s ithrotighlthe end cabinet-wall t2-and:is-providefiwithsa grooveti helt wheel 46. Mounted -on shaft'40"within"compai=tmental; is a drum housing lfl whiehsspansapicker drum 28lengthwise and :is substantially semicylindrical to 'normally cover itheforward is'i'de' of the picker drum. dmim rhousingliis provided "withend walls whi'ch are reduced iat their-one side at'52 to receivelendzbandszil. Each end wall 503 is provided with an an' ledsleclge fl on"which -is -mountedbearings 58 i'ior l'concentrb cally supportinghousing lasfor'irotatahle adjustmept on shaft".

frhe.ipiolger-iorstripping iimim28 comprises.two end disksilLspac-ed-aapart and secureiy attached to sham; 40 for -rotetlonttherewith. A seriestof elastic ba'rs I52 secureiiiatitheir -opposite'en dsirespe'ctiveh to .:isaid disks are vmeferalily teqi-nilhr spacedaboiltthelperipherytf @s'aid disks *ancl in I f :1; 1-. y 2,466,242

parallel relation with shaft 48. Each bar 62 is provided with a seriesof spaced apart feather engaging lugs 64. The lugs of adjacent bars aredisposed in offset relation in such a manner as to insure substantiallycomplete contact of the fowls body. Each enlarged end 63 of the bar 62is preferably provided with a metal fitting or clip 66 which rigidlyengages the end of the bar and provides means whereby the bar is securedbetween a pair of lips 68 integral with disks 68. When the clip 66 ispositioned, a pin 18 is positioned through openings II in lips 68 tosecure the clip in position. In radial alignment with each of the bars62 and spacedinwardly there-.- from is a tube 12 disposed parallel withshaft 48. A pliable band 14 encompasses tube 12 and the adjacent bar 62to limit the outward travel of the elastic bars due to centrifugal forcewhen the drum is rotated. These bands are located in spaced apartrelation, as clearly shown, so as to insure a substantially cylindricalform to the contour of the outer ends of the feather engaging lugs 64during the picking operation. It will be noted that these bands extendabout the bar 62 between the lugs which tend to retain them in theproper spaced relation. These bands are preferably pliable but notelastic so as to provide a definite limit to the outward movement ofsaid bars. This drum is adapted to be driven by stationary motor 36which is mounted on shelf I6 securely mounted within compartment 24. Themotor shaft I8 extends through end Wall I2 and is provided with agrooved pulley wheel 88. A belt 82 operatively interconnects belt wheels46 and 88 to drive the picker drum 28.

Picker drum 38 is constructed in like manner as drum 28 and the partsare numbered in like manner. This drum 38 is mounted for rotation withshaft 84 which in turn is mounted in bearings 86 carried by the frame 88which in turn is oscillatably mounted in bearings 9'! carriedrespectively by end walls I2 and I4.- The cross bar 96 of frame 88serves as a support for motor 38 and serves to join together the sidearms 94 of frame 88. A counterweight 98 secured by screws I88 to theunderside of cross bar 96 is of proper weight to substantially balancethe drum 38 and motor 38 on the shaft 92. Since the motor shaft 39 ofmotor 38 and the drum shaft 84 are adjustable about the shaft 92, it isnecessary to slot end wall at 93 and 95 to respectively receive theextended ends of the drum shaft 84 and motor shaft 39. The end portionof shaft 84 extends beyond wall I2 and is provided with a securelymounted belt wheel 99 which is operatively interconnected by a belt IIwith a belt wheel I83 secured to motor shaft 95.

When the parts are at rest as shown in Fig. 2, the elastic bars 62willbe disposed in a straight line and the feather engaging lugs 64 Ofthe drums 28 and 38 will be spaced apart as shown. Furthermore, thebands 14 will be inactive. However, when the motors are energized todrive the drums at the proper picking speed or speeds, the outerextremities of the feather engaging lugs 64 will be extended to thedotted lines I82 and 184 so that the distance therebetween will begreatly reduced. The arrows I86 in lines I82 and I84, indicate thedirection of rotation of the respective drums. A cross section of one ofthe picking drums, shown in Fig. parts when the drum is rotating at asufficient speed to set up centrifugal force to move the featherengaging lugs to the picking position.

It is quite apparent that when the parts of 5, shows the position of theaccess may be had to 4 the fowl are introduced between the drums, thefeather engaging lugs may be depressed by overcoming the centrifugalaction, thus making it possible to contact the irregular contour of thefowl part being picked. Each of the drums is provided with a housing 48and these housings are spaced apart at I88, the proper distance to admitthe legs, wings or neck of the fowl, but to preclude the passage of thefowls body therebetween. While this positioning of the housings is shownin Figs. 1 and 2, however, provision is made for adjusting the housingsso that full the drums to carry on any of the usual picking operations.These housings 48 are provided with latching means whereby they may besecured in any desired position relative to the cabinet. The housing forpicking drum 28 is provided with an arcuate series of holes II8 in eachof its ends which are adapted to be engaged by the latch pin I I 2 oflatch member I I4. This pin II 2 is normally urged to the extendedposition by means of a spring II6 which rests against the upperoperating handle I I8 as clearly shown in Fig. 8.

By engaging operating handles I I8 to release the pins I I2, theoperator can move housing 48 to the desired position and then drop thepins into one of the holes in series I I 8. The oscillatable drum 38, isprovided with a double latch member I20 as shown in Fig. 7. This latchmember is provided with a latch pin I22 which engages one of the holesof the arcuate series of holes I24 formed in a flange I26 extendingoutwardly from the front ofthe cabinet III. This latch pin I22 isprovided with an operating arm I28. The latch member is carried by theside arm 94 and maintains a constant position relative to the shaft 84,thus making it possible to oscillate the frame 88 on shaft 92 to adjustthe drum 38 toward and from drum 28. This latch member is also providedwith a latch pin I38 which engages one of the holes I32 of an arcuateseries of holes I34 formed in the end wall of housing 48. This pin I38is urged to the extended position by means of spring I34 and has anoperating arm I36. At the opposite side of this housing 48 is a. latchpin I38 mounted in latch housing I48 carried by the side arm 94. Thislatch pin has an operating arm I42 and is urged by spring I44 to engagein a hole I46 of a series of arcuate disposed holes formed in the endwall of housing 48.

To prevent objectionable leakage between the upper housing 48 and thecabinet I8 through opening 31, a floating closure member I48 hinged atI58 to partition 2I rests on top of housing 48 at all times.

A water line I 5I interconnected with a suitable supply of water underpressure is controlled by valve I52 and has transverse spray membersI54, I55 and I58 which are controlled by valves I68, I62 and I64respectively and extend through end wall I4 to reach substantiallyacross the cabinet. The spray members each comprise an elongated tubularmember I66, having a series of transverse spray members I68. member I66is capped at I78 so that all water delivered to the spray members willbe forced laterally therefrom through the nozzles. Spray member I 54 ispositioned to discharge jets of water against the partition member I56sprays water upwardly against drum 38 and spray member the lower portionof drum 28. All .water delivered to the cabinet is drained to theinclined The end of member 2|, spray.

I58.projects water against bottom and to the back of the machine. Thedesired amount of water to the various parts of the machine may beregulated by means of the control valves described above. Feathersplucked from the fowl will pass downwardly and through the opening H2formed through the back of the machine.

A removable housing lid is secured to the end wall 12 of the cabinet tocover the moving parts which extend beyond said end wall.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patcut is:

1. A fowl plucking machine comprising a housing having a front openingand an outlet, a feather engagin drum mounted for rotation in saidhousing adjacent said front opening, a eather engaging drum rotatablymounted in said housing for transverse adjustment toward and from saidfirst named drum, a drum housing mounted for angular adjustment on theaxis of each of said drums adjustable to form an opening therebetween toreceive a fowl for positioning between the adjacent portions of theperipheries of said drums, and means to simultaneously rotate said drumsin opposite directions,

2. A fowl plucking machine comprising a housing, a pair of horizontallydisposed feather engaging drums mounted for rotation in said housing,means adjustable to transversely adjust one of said drums whereby thedistance between the peripheries of said drums is varied, and a seriesof elastic members disposed in spaced apart relation under tension onthe periphery of each of said drums, said elastic members having featherengaging edges adapted to contact and pluck feathers from the fowlcarcass positioned between said drums as the machine is operated.

3. A fowl plucking machine comprising a housing, a pair of horizontallydisposed feather engaging drums mounted for rotation in said housing,means adjustable to transversely adjust one of said drums whereby thedistance between the peripheries of said drums is varied, a pair ofshields mounted for adjustment about the respective axes of said drumsto regulate the amount of the exposed areas of said drums, and a seriesof elastic members disposed in spaced apart relation under tension onthe periphery of each of said drums, said elastic members having featherengaging edges adapted to contact and pluck feathers from the fowlcarcass positioned between said drums as the machine is operated.

4. In a fowl plucking machine, a rotatably mounted member having a pairof spaced apart, axially disposed members; a series of elastic membersdisposed in spaced apart relation under tension between said axiallydisposed members, said elastic members having feather engaging edgesadapted to engage and pluck feathers from a fowl carcass as the saidmachine is operated; and a series of members associated with each ofelastic members to limit the outward movement of the elastic member dueto centrifugal force.

5. In a fowl plucking mach ne, a rotatably mounted member having a pairof spaced apart, axially disposed members; a series of elastic membersdisposed in spaced apart relation under tension between said axiallydisposed members, said elastic members having feather engaging edgesadapted to engage and pluck feathers from a fowl carcass as the saidmachine is operated; a tube secured at its opposite ends to said axiallydisposed members adjacent each of said elastic members; and a series ofspaced apart bands encompassing said tube and the adjacent elasticmember whereby to limit the radial movement of said elastic members dueto centrifugal force, as the rotatably mounted member is r0- tated.

6. In a fowl plucking machine, a pair of horizontally disposed rotatablefeather engaging drums each having a series of elastic feather engagingbars at its periphery; means to relatively adjust the said drums wherebythe distance between the adjacent peripheries thereof is varied; meansto simultaneously drive said drums in opposite directions; and means tolimit the outward movement of said feather engagin bars due tocentrifugal force as the drums are rotated.

7. In a fowl plucking machine, a pair of horizontally disposed rotatablefeather engaging drums each having a series of elastic feather engagingbars at its periphery; means to relatively adjust the said drums wherebythe distance between the adjacent peripheries thereof is varied; meansto simultaneously drive said drums in opposite directions; means tolimit the outward movement of said feather engaging bars due tocentrifugal force as the drums are rotated; and an adjustable housingfor each drum whereby the working periphery thereof is partiallyshielded.

GORDON W. JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

, UNITED STATES PATENTS

